If you’re pregnant, you may be concerned about your health during Auckland’s measles outbreak.
If you have had MMR vaccination or measles in the past, you are considered immune to the disease It’s extremely unlikely that you will catch it.
If you don’t know whether you’re immune, it’s important to try and find out. Do this by:
- Checking your immunisation records in your Plunket/Well Child book if you or your parents have it.
- Asking your family doctor.
If you still don’t know whether you’re immune – and you live in a community at high risk – talk to your doctor or lead maternity carer about having a blood test to determine your measles immunity.
While you wait for those results, your lead maternity carer will be able to tell you if you are immune to rubella, which is routinely checked as part of pregnancy tests. In New Zealand, if you are immune to rubella you are usually immune to measles as the same vaccine protects against measles, mumps and rubella.
If you are pregnant and not immune you cannot be vaccinated with MMR during your pregnancy. However, you can lower your risk of catching measles by checking that everyone living with, or visiting you, is immune to the disease. You could also choose to avoid large public events.
Trying to get pregnant? If you’re not immune, speak to your GP for advice.
The Ministry of Health says an extra 100,000 doses of MMR vaccine are expected to arrive in New Zealand in the next few weeks.”
More advice and information about measles and MMR vaccination is available by free phoning Healthline on 0800 611 116 or the Immunisation Advisory Centre on 0800 IMMUNE (466 863).